Civilians taken hostage as MNLF attacks Zamboanga City

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/09 September) — Armed followers of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have held some 20 civilians hostage in Zamboanga City after a clash with government troops on Sunday night, Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said in a TV interview this morning.

Climaco-Salazar told ANC’s Karen Davila the MNLF members were planning to enter the city and declare independence at the city hall.

She said she has formed a crisis committee to handle the situation, adding classes have been suspended in the city.

One member of the Philippine Navy was killed in the Sunday evening clash near barangay Rio Hondo, the mayor said.

Also in an interview with ANC, MNLF spokesperson Emmanuel Fontanilla said the MNLF members came to Zamboanga City to “escort” MNLF founding chair Nur Misuari.

Fontanilla said Misuari planned to hold consultations around Mindanao about the MNLF’s declaration of independence without resorting to violence.

But Climaco-Salazar said such consultations should not be held in Zamboanga because the city is not part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

She said that while they are supportive to the peace efforts in Mindanao, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process should “secure all these dialogues and negotiations of MNLF and other groups out of Zamboanga City because we are not part of the ARMM.”

Reports said Misuari declared an independent Mindanao state that he called Bangsamoro Republik on August 12, although the ARMM police admitted they have no solid evidence yet that the declaration really took place.

Misuari has openly voiced his opposition to the ongoing peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)

He said the GPH-MILF peace negotiation has sidelined the tripartite review of the 1996 GPH-MNLF Final Peace Agreement. (MindaNews)

which one better doing war with all muslim in philippine or only mnlf or kill misuari

generalizing only make thing worse.

john wharrier

ITS THE IDEOLOGY BEHIND ISLAM THAT IS THE WORLD PROBLEM NOT JUST IN MINDANAO, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AS LONG AS THERE IS ISLAM IN THE WORLD NOT JUST IN MINDANAO THERE WILL BE WAR/MURDER/BEHEADING/MUTILATION/ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS/SUFFERING/DEPRIVATION.

Jamal22

Muslims are only quiet or not radical because their imam has not told them to be more radical. Killing Misuari will only delay. They will simply pick another leader.

It a lot of places in the world people are forced to become Muslim or die. If a person decides they do not want to be Muslim they are killed. Christians and other religions around the world are persecuted by Muslims. They used fear and intimidation to further their goal of converting non Muslims, and tell the world they are a peaceful religion. Muslims want non Muslims to accept them and expect to be given whatever they want to promote Islam, but they do not do the same in return to other religions, especially Christianity and Judaism.

Muslims lie to non Muslims about anything they want and it is accepted in their culture. So any peace talks with Muslims are useless.

They only understand one thing….superior force.

john wharrier

YES JAMAL22 IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD. YOU CAN STOP ONE INSURGENT BUT OTHERS SPRING UP AND EVEN IF ALL THEIR AIMS ARE SATISFIED THEY WILL EXPECT MORE AND USE VIOLENCE AGAIN TO GET IT.